System and method for enabling interrupts for rfid tags

Abstract

A system and method for enabling interrupts for RFID tags. An RFID tag is provided with an output signal that can notify another chip in a system, or another function within the same IC, that a read of the RFID's information has taken place. In one embodiment, the output signal would awaken a microcontroller from a low power sleep mode. The awakened microcontroller can be designed to perform a higher-level function than that supported by the RFID tag.

1 . A wireless communication system, comprising:
 an electronic device that operates in a low power sleep mode; and   a radio frequency identification tag that generates an output signal after said radio frequency identification tag is read, wherein said output signal triggers said electronic device to awaken from said low power sleep mode.   
   
   
       2 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic device is a Bluetooth device. 
   
   
       3 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic device is a mobile phone or personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       4 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic device is a Wi-Fi device. 
   
   
       5 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic device has a higher communication capacity then said radio frequency identification tag. 
   
   
       6 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein said radio frequency identification tag is a passive tag. 
   
   
       7 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein said output signal is an interrupt signal that is provided to a microcontroller in said electronic device. 
   
   
       8 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein said output signal is an interrupt signal that is provided to a power management unit in said electronic device. 
   
   
       9 . A wireless communication method, comprising:
 transmitting, by a radio frequency identification tag, information to a radio frequency identification tag reading device upon activation of said radio frequency identification tag by a reading device;   outputting, by said radio frequency identification tag, a signal after said radio frequency identification tag is read; and   awakening an electronic device from a low power sleep mode using said output signal.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said radio frequency identification tag is a passive tag. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said outputting comprises sending an interrupt signal to a microcontroller in said electronic device. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said outputting comprises sending a signal to a power management unit in said electronic device. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising activating a pairing process by said electronic device via Bluetooth. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising activating a mobile payment process by said electronic device. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising activating a mobile payment process by a mobile phone or personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising activating wireless communication by said electronic device. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising activating wireless communication by a Wi-Fi device. 
   
   
       18 . A peer-to-peer wireless communication method, comprising:
 transmitting information from a radio frequency identification tag in a first device to a second device in response to a read by said second device;   awakening a peer-to-peer communication module in said first device from a low power mode upon said read by said second device; and   transmitting information to said second device using said peer-to-peer communication module of said first device.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said radio frequency identification tag is a passive device. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said peer-to-peer communication module is a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi module. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said peer-to-peer communication module is a near field communication module with peer-to-peer communication capability.